SECTION 30-179. Powers and duties of the Council  

The Council shall:

1. Furnish, upon request, advisory opinions or guidelines, and other appropriate information regarding the Freedom of Information Act (§ 2.2-3700 et seq.) to any person or public body, in an expeditious manner;

2. Conduct training seminars and educational programs for the members and staff of public bodies and other interested persons on the requirements of the Freedom of Information Act (§ 2.2-3700 et seq.);

3. Publish such educational materials as it deems appropriate on the provisions of the Freedom of Information Act (§ 2.2-3700 et seq.);

4. Request from any public body such assistance, services, and information as will enable the Council to effectively carry out its responsibilities. Information provided to the Council by a public body shall not be released to any other party unless authorized by such public body;

5. Assist in the development and implementation of the provisions of § 2.2-3700 ;

6. Develop the public comment form for use by designated public bodies in accordance with subdivision D 6 of § 2.2-3700 ;

7. Develop an online public comment form to be posted on the Council's official public government website to enable any requester to comment on the quality of assistance provided to the requester by a public body; and

8. Report annually on or before December 1 of each year on its activities and findings regarding the Freedom of Information Act (§ 2.2-3700 et seq.), including recommendations for changes in the law, to the General Assembly and the Governor. The annual report shall be published as a state document.

2000, cc. 2.2-3700 , 2.2-3700 , § 2.1-346.3; 2001, c. 2.2-3700 ; 2004, cc. 2.2-3700 , 2.2-3700 ; 2013, c. 2.2-3700 ; 2017, c. 2.2-3700 ; 2018, cc. 2.2-3700 , 2.2-3700 ; 2019, c. 2.2-3700 .